The grant should sponsor the distribution of approximately 47,000 pounds of food to underserved areas of Kent County through the food bank’s mobile food pantry program, the organization said.

According to its website, about 1,300 local organizations rely on Feeding America West Michigan for food that is provided to 100,000 struggling local families.

Ken Estelle, chief executive officer of Feeding America West Michigan, said 84,000 people in Kent County are “food insecure.”

The Darden Foundation is the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants Inc., which owns and operates more than 2,000 restaurants. This is the second year the company’s grant program has funded Feeding America West Michigan.